NUR 676 Exam 2 Review Questions and
Correct Answers
Epiglottitis (Definition and Epidemiology) ✅-supraglottitis
-rare but serious life-threatening condition due to potential for laryngospasm and
irrevocable loss of airway
-characterized by: inflammation & edema of epiglottis, vallecular, arytenoids, and
aryepiglottic folds
-most prevalent cause: bacterial infection (most common) Hib
-Viral illness or caustic and thermal injury to the epiglottis
Epiglottitis (Definition and Epidemiology) ✅Noninfectious causes:
-inflammation due to thermal injury (crack/marijuana smoking)
-ingestion of caustic substances (dishwasher detergent)
-systemic disease (DMII, HTN, obs. pulmonary disease, seizure disorder, alcohol/drug
abuse, tobacco smoking)
-chemo for head & neck cancer
-trauma by foreign objects
-burns associated w/ bottle-fed infant formula
Epiglottitis (Clinical Presentation) ✅-Severe odynophagia (painful swallowing)
-shortness of breath w/ sitting up & leaning forward
-inability to swallow one's secretions
-Stridor in children
-Odynophagia, dysphagia, and voice change in adults
-cough
-drooling
-respiratory distress
-hoarseness
-dyspnea
-neck tenderness
-lymphadenopathy
-fever
Epiglottitis (Physical Exam and Diagnostics) ✅-Adults: anterior neck tenderness w/
severe sore throat, signs of respiratory distress, may not have a fever/toxic appearance
-Direct visualization via laryngoscopy w/ flexible fiberoptic scope or laryngeal mirror
-Indirect laryngoscopy : erythematous, edematous epiglottis w/ narrow glottic opening.
Substernal and supraclavicular retractions, tachycardia, tachypnea, and inspiratory
stridor
-Diagnostics: US (ED setting), lateral next XR, CBC, Blood cultures
Epiglottitis (Management) ✅-Hospitalizatio in ICU for airway monitoring
Correct Answers
Epiglottitis (Definition and Epidemiology) ✅-supraglottitis
-rare but serious life-threatening condition due to potential for laryngospasm and
irrevocable loss of airway
-characterized by: inflammation & edema of epiglottis, vallecular, arytenoids, and
aryepiglottic folds
-most prevalent cause: bacterial infection (most common) Hib
-Viral illness or caustic and thermal injury to the epiglottis
Epiglottitis (Definition and Epidemiology) ✅Noninfectious causes:
-inflammation due to thermal injury (crack/marijuana smoking)
-ingestion of caustic substances (dishwasher detergent)
-systemic disease (DMII, HTN, obs. pulmonary disease, seizure disorder, alcohol/drug
abuse, tobacco smoking)
-chemo for head & neck cancer
-trauma by foreign objects
-burns associated w/ bottle-fed infant formula
Epiglottitis (Clinical Presentation) ✅-Severe odynophagia (painful swallowing)
-shortness of breath w/ sitting up & leaning forward
-inability to swallow one's secretions
-Stridor in children
-Odynophagia, dysphagia, and voice change in adults
-cough
-drooling
-respiratory distress
-hoarseness
-dyspnea
-neck tenderness
-lymphadenopathy
-fever
Epiglottitis (Physical Exam and Diagnostics) ✅-Adults: anterior neck tenderness w/
severe sore throat, signs of respiratory distress, may not have a fever/toxic appearance
-Direct visualization via laryngoscopy w/ flexible fiberoptic scope or laryngeal mirror
-Indirect laryngoscopy : erythematous, edematous epiglottis w/ narrow glottic opening.
Substernal and supraclavicular retractions, tachycardia, tachypnea, and inspiratory
stridor
-Diagnostics: US (ED setting), lateral next XR, CBC, Blood cultures
Epiglottitis (Management) ✅-Hospitalizatio in ICU for airway monitoring
